honorary chair

John Giannini

John Giannini, this year’s Honorary Chair of the Cincinnati International Wine Festival, is a California native with more than 15 years of experience crafting premium cabernet sauvignon in Napa Valley. Trained in general viticulture at Napa Valley College, he brings both technical expertise and deep family-rooted passion for wine–first inspired by his Italian father and grandfather.

Before joining Mount Veeder Winery as winemaker, John spent 12 years at Outpost Wines working alongside renowned winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown. There, he managed up to 70 fermentations a year across cabernet sauvignon, cabernet fanc, zinfandel, pinot noir, chardonnay and sauvignon blanc, contributing to multiple 100-point Schrader Cellars wines.

At Mount Veeder–rising 1,000 to 1,600 feet above Napa Valley–he collaborated closely with Director of Vineyard Operations Blake Wood to understand each vintage’s unique challenges. He’s energized by how mountain wines develop structure and intensity.

As the winery celebrates its 50^th anniversary, John is committed to capturing the rugged character of this high-elevation appellation. Festival-goers will taste the results in his expressive, mountain-grown wines.